Fluid cycling system



March 17, 1953 E. GAINES 2,631,610

' FLUID CYCLING SYSTEM Filed June 26, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

Elamar Gaines WIQZQ ATTORNEY March 17, 1953 E. GAlNES FLUID CYCLINGSYSTEM 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 26, 1945 1---&

in II IIIII/ INVENTOR. E. Lamar Ga ines AI'I'ORNE Y March 17, 1953GAINEs 2,631,610

FLUID CYCLING SYSTEM Filed June 26, 1945 v 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 N \0 Q i s-.1- Q 3 o 4J 9 m d m N o a 7 o l 2, a

INVENTOR.

E Z amar Oaines Patented Mar. 17, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE2,631,610 FLUID CYCLING SYSTEM Ernest Lamar Gaines, Seattle, Wash.

Application June 26, 1945, Serial No. 601,575

Claims. (Cl. 137627) The present invention relates to a fluid cyclingsystem and in more particular, to improvement of the system shown in myprior Patent Number 2,068,102," granted January 19, 1937. This priorpatent shows a fluid main having a series of branches connected theretofor the conduction of fluid from the main, and apparatus for controllingthe flow of fluid from the main to the branches so that fluid flows infirst one branch and then another. This system has worked very wellinpractice but it has often been found desirable that the flow of fluidin the branches be halted after a predetermined time or number of cyclesof flow in the branches. In the past this. difliculty has been remediedonly by manual operation of the system.

The present invention relates to an automatic control which may be setso that after a predetermined number of cycles of operation, thefunctioning of the system will be brought to a halt. Thus it will beseen that an object of the present invention is the construction of afluid cycling system in which the number of cycles may be predetermined.

A further object of the present invention is the construction of a fluidactuated indexing valve, which after a predetermined number of cycles,will cut off the flow of fluid in a system.

A further object of the present invention isthe construction of a fluidcycling system in which there isca-n' indexing means for determining thenumber of cycles performed by the system.

Another object of the present invention is the construction of a fluidsystem in which there is incorporated an indexing valve actuated byvariations of pressure in such system for indexing such valve and forshutting ofi the flow of fluid in said system by the fluid pressure ofthe system.

A further object of the present invention is the construction of anindexing valve which is operated by the fluid pressure to which thevalve is subjected to index the valve and to cut ofi the flow of fluidthrough the valve after a predetermined number of indexings.

Theabove mentioned defects of the prior art are remedied and theseobjects achieved in a system such as shown in my prior patent and in thesystem illustrated in the accompanying drawing,

'by placing in the control circuit of such a system ratchet', after apredetermined number of actuatlons will allow an increased stroke of theratchet 2 arm to allow closure of the valve by the actuating piston ordiaphragm.

A device constructed in accordance with the above outline is shown inthe accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic sketch of a fluid cycling system havingincorporated therein a pressure operated indexing valve, two groups ofbranch valves and control valves; Fig. 2 is an elevational sectionalview of an indexing valve embodying the present invention;

Fig. 3 is a. side elevational view of the indexing valve;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the indexing valve; and

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 55 of Figure 3.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of one of the groups ofbranch and control valves.

The control system shown in Fig. 1 is similar to the one shown in Fig. 5of the above mentioned patent.

In Fig. 1 there is shown a fluid supply header It), with numerous branchpipes I I, I2. The flow of fluid througheach branch is controlled by abranch valve [3, l4. Directing attention to Fig. 6 it can be seen that.the valve body 52 ofeach branch valve has a valve seat 53 formed at theinlet end of its chamber 54 upon which seats a disk valve 55 forcontrolling the flow of fluid therethrough. The stem 56 for this diskvalve is hollow and slidably extends upwardly through the center of apartitioning member 51 threaded into the upper end of the valve body 52.A stufflng box 58 is provided for the valve stem. The partitioningmember is surmounted by a cap 59 and together therewith defines an upperchamber 60. This upper chamber is fitted with a diaphragm 6| which isclamped between the cap and partitioning member by screws 62. It will benoted that the upper end of the valve stem 56 is formed with a headplate 63 to which is secured the central portion of the diaphragm as byrivets 64. The bore in the valve stem continues through the diaphragmand receives a stationary needle 65 extending downwardly as an axialprolongation of a screw 66 threaded into the cap 59. This needlecontrols the bleeding of fluid from the lower chamber 54 to the upperchamber 60. Of importance is the fact that the head plate B3 is largerin area than the disk valve 55 so that when the pressure in the upperchamber approaches that in the lower chamber the valve will be urgedagainst its seat 53.

55 connected to the base member 61 of a control valve, or pilot |5, It,by a loading line l1, Hi. This base member together with a crowningmember 68 defines an open-topped intermediate chamber which ispartitioned by a diaphragm held in position by screws 72. The portion ofthe chamber above th diaphragm is in direct communication with apressure tank 13 mounted on the lower portion of the chamber andconnects by a passage 79 with the respective loading line H, 8.Extending through a, hollow rivet 14 in the center of the diaphragm is areduced stem 15 continuing as an axial prolongation of the primary stem16 of a valve 17 seated by its upper face against a seat 18. The latteris located between a lower chamber 86 and a bore 8| leading up into theintermediate chamber and is of a diameter exceeding that of the. primarystem 15 extending therethrough.

A compression spring 82 is retained in the lower chamber 8!) by a basescrew plug 83 and yieldingly urges the valve into a closed position. Thediaphragm is localized with respect to the valve by a spring 84 which isheld against the upper side of the diaphragm by a nut 85 so that therivet is always seated against the shoulder between the valve stems. Itshould be noted that a portion of this shoulder is bevelled so thatfluid can always pass through the rivet from one side of the diaphragmto the other.

The upper end of the lower chamber 88 is connected by a passage 86 withone end of a respective release line H), 20 which has its other end.connected to the cap of the branch valve which the pilot valve controls.The release line I9 from the last control valve IS in the line isconnected to the first branch valve l3 in the line, so that the systemmay cycle indefinitely. A starting valve 2| is placed in the releaseline nearest the desired control point, but may be. placed in any of therelease lines Hi, 20. Also, in one of the release lines there is placedthe pressure operated indexing valve 22, shown schematically in Fig. 1

and in more detail in Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5.

The pressure operated indexing valve isshown in detail in Figs. 2, 3, 4and 5., The location of this indexing valve is a matter of convenienceand may be placed in the release line leading to the starting valve, assuch line would probably bethe most accessible, although it may beplaced in any of the loading or release lines which make up. the pilot,or control, circuit of the system. Taking this indexing valve as havingbeen placed in the release line |9, the operation of the systemdescribed so far is as follows:

With the starting valve 2| closed, when water is first supplied to theheaderlll, the branch valves l3, l4 close because the water passesthrough the hollow valve stems 56 into the upper chambers 60 and loadsthe diaphragm 6!. The system is started in operation by opening thestarting valve 2| to relieve the pressure in the release line H3. Therelease of pressure in this line l9 will unload the diaphragm 6| in thebranch valve l3, allow its disk valve 55 toopen and start Water flowingin the branch line H. The fiow of Water through the branch valve |3wil1cause a pressure to build up in the pressure tank 13 of the controlvalve i5 through the loadingv line H, passage 19, and rivet 74. Afterwater has flowed in the branch II for a sufficient time to load thepressure tank of the control valve It, the starting valve 2| is closed.After this-closing of the starting; valve the pressure will start tobuild up on the diaphragm 6| in the branch valve I3 and very soon thevalve will close. The closing of this branch valve i3 instantly relievesthe pressure-in the loading line I! connected to the control valve i5,and hence relieves the pressure on the underside of its diaphragm H. Asa result the pressure in the pressure tank acting on the diaphragm ofthe control valve will cause its valve H to open and relieve thepressure in the release line 2!] via the passage 86, bore 8|, passage13, line H, and branch line N. This allows the branch valve Hi to open,and water to flow in the discharge, or branch, line l2, from the valvei4.v If more valves are in series than shown in the drawings, this willbe repeated seriatim until the last control valve in the series relievesthe pressure in the release line IQ of the last valve in the series,which will again start the operation and allow the first valve |3 in theseries to open, and water to flow in the first branch, or discharge,pipe I From the operation above described, it will be apparent that thepressure in the release and loading lines is increased and decreasedwith each cycle of operation of the valves; and, that if the pressure inthe control circuit is not relieved, no branch valve will open, and thatfailure of any one valve to open, will bring the cycle of operation ofthe system to a halt.

It is an object of the present invention to ob-. tain this cessation ofcycling of the system after a predetermined number of cycles, and to'dothis by using the intermittent pressure in the control circuit. Toaccomplish this, an indexing valve 22 is placed in the control circuit.While the index: ing valve has been shown as placed in one of therelease lines, it may be placed in one of the load ing lines with equaldesirability;

Figures 2, 3, 4 and 5 show details, of the indexing valve 22. Fig. 2 isa. sectional elevational view of the valve, which is divided into a basepart 30 and a, cap part 3|. The release; line- H! from the control valveI6 is provided with a fitting that will secure to the male threads 32 onthe base of the indexing valve. The release line H] from the branchvalve I3 is provided with a fitting that will secure to the femalethreads 33, in the base of the indexing valve. The valve has a compositestem with a lower part 34 and an, upper part 35. The lower part 34carries the valve head 36, which upon sufficient movement of the stem,will close on the valve seat 31, to close the control passage 38 and therelease line IS. The control passage 38 connects with a diaphragm basechamber 39 and the branch passage 40. The base portion 39 of thediaphragm chamber is closed and the base 30 is separated from the cap 3|by a diaphragm 4|. Secured to the diaphragm and to each other are thelower part 34 and the upper part 35 of the valve stem. A diaphragm capchamber 42 is formed in the cap and houses the upper part 35 of thevalve stem and. a valve spring 43 that biases the valve downward intoopen position. Attached to the upper part of the valve stem is aflexible pawl pin 44. This pawl 44 is guided in the cap andextendsupward and, out of the. cap to engage the teeth 45 of a ratchetwheel 46. This ratchet wheel is mounted for rotation on a standard 41which is integral with the cap 3|. The ratchet teeth are arrangedradially of the wheel but inward from its periphery 48. On the periphery48 of the wheel are placed a seriesof sequential numbers incorrespondance with the ratchet teeth. The upper part 35 of the valvestem is of such a length that it will permit movement of the stem butwill engage the periphery 48 to prevent closure, of the valve head 36.on. its seat3l. The spring pawl: 44 is,of a. length that will engageandmovetheratchet. teeth 45. The

movement or the van stem from'its 10w position to a position against theperiphery of the wheel is sufficient to index the wheel a distance ofone tooth. Further movement of the stem would close the valve and thepawl would be disengaged by the action of the following tooth on theside of the spring pawl 44. This further movement'of the pawl andclosing of the valve'is allowed for by forming a notch 49 in theperiphery of the wheel. Thus it will be evident that once duringrotation of the wheel the valve may close. Backward movement of thewheel is prevented by a dog that engages the ratchet teeth. A pointer[5| is provided and mounted on the top of the standard 41. The periphery48 of the wheel is numbered clockwise, as indicated in Fig. 2, with thedirection ofrotation of the wheel by the pawl. The numberingis so placedthat when the notch 49 is entered by the upper part 35 of the stem, thefigure zero will be under the pointer and the figure one will be nextand on the right of the zero. As indicated in Fig. 2, onemore actuationby the pawl will place the zero under control valve and then thefollowing branch valve, and so through the system, and the system willcontinue to cycle until avalve is closed in one of the pipes, or lines,of the system.

With the indexing valve 22 in the release line,

the operation of the system will come to a stop after a predeterminednumber of cycles. The cycles are predetermined by setting the number onthe wheel corresponding to the desired number of cycles opposite thepointer, opening the 'starting valve 2| to initiate a cycle, and closingthe starting valve after the pressure chamber of the first control valvehas been loaded. Closing of the starting valve 2| allows pressure tobuild up in the release line |9 until the pressure will operate thediaphragm 4| against the spring 43. 'This movement of the diaphragm willoperate the pawlfto index the ratchet teeth 45 and wheel 46 the distanceof one tooth and one number on the face 48 of the wheel. The upper end35 of the upper valve stem will strike against the face of the wheel tolimit movement of the valve stem and prevent closing of the valve. Thisoperation is on-the assumption that the indexing valve has been set formore than one cycle of operation of the system.

Pressure will remain in the relief line l9 until the system hascontinued in sequential operation of the branch valves and reached thelast in the system before the first one operated. Then the last controlvalve win the line will relieve the pressure in the relief line l9, thediaphragm 4| in the indexing valve 22 will be lowered, the first branchvalve I3 will open, and the system will begin another cycle.

These cycles will continue for the predetermined number, less one, whenthe upper end or the valve stem of the indexing valve will enter therecess 49 in the ratchet wheel 48, and this will allow extra movement ofthe valve stem to close the valve head 36 upon its seat 31 and stop theflow of water through the valve and the relief line I9. At the end ofthe last cycle when the end control valve l6 opens to relieve thepressure in the line IS, the pressure will be relieved only between theend valve IG and the indexing valve 22. The part of the relief line |9between the indexing valve and the first branch valve |3 will remainunder pressure from the main |0 through the weep, or leak, opening inthe valve stem leading to the top of the piston, or diaphragm. Thisfailure to relieve all of the pressure in the line I9 will stop thecycling of the system after the set predetermined number of cycles.

If the indexing valve is placed in a loading line such as H, the branchpassage 40 may be connected to the control valve and the controlpassage38 to the branch valve. A starting valve should be placed betweenthe indexing valve and the control valve. It may also be necessary tohave a starting valve in one of the control lines to take care ofabnormal conditions, as when the pressure chamber of the control valvenext to the indexing valve has no positive pressure for initialactuation of the control valve upon opening of the starting valveconnected to the control line.

This indexing valve 22 may be placed in similar control circuits, suchas any of those shown in my aforementioned patent, to stop the operationof the controls and branch valves shown therein.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A fluid cycling system, having: a series of valves, means forsupplying fluid under pressure to said valves, a separate controlcircuit connected between each of said valves so that all are therebyconnected in series, said valves being actuated seriatim by controlpressure changes in each of said circuits, an indexing means operativeas a function of the quantity flow of such fluid, and a valve responsiveto a predetermined number of indexing operations by said indexing meansfor closing one of said circuits whereby said series of valves isrendered inactive.

2. A fluid cycling system, having: a series of valves, a separatecontrol circuit connected between each of said valves so that all arethereby connected in series, said valves being actuated seriatim bycontrol pressure changes in each of said circuits, an indexing meansoperative by such 'control pressure changes, and a valve responsive to apredetermined number of indexing operations by said indexing means forclosing one of said circuits whereby said series of valves is renderedinactive.

indexing operations by said indexing means for closing said circuitwhereby said control valve and said main valve are rendered inactive.

4. A series of main valves, a separate control circuit connected betweeneach of said main valves so that all of said main valves are therebyconnected in series and will operate in each of such circuits a controlvalve responsive to and actuated by control pressure changes in itscircuit so that said main valves will operate seriatim, and an indexingvalve operatively connected in one of such circuits; said indexing valvehaving indexing means operative by such control pressure changes, andvalve means responsive to a predetermined number of indexing operationsby said indexing means for closing such one circuit whereby the controlvalve in such one circuit and said main valves are rendered inactive.

5. A 'fluid cycling system, having:- a series of main valves; a separatecontrol circuit connected .between each of said main valves so that allof said main valves are thereby connected in series, said main valvesbeing actuated by control pressure changes in said circuits; in each ofsaid circuits a control valve responsive to and actuated by a controlpressure change in said circuit, each of said control valves effecting acontrol pressure change in its circuit to actuate a main valve connectedto its circuit so that said main valves will be actuated seriatim; andan indexing valve operatively connected in oneof said circuits, saidindexing valve having indexing mean operative by such control pressurechanges in its circuit, and .valve means responsive to a predeterminednumber of indexing operations by said indexing means for closing saidone circuit whereby the control valve in said one circuit and, hence,the other valve in said system are rendered inactive.

6. A series of main valves, each of said main valves having as a valveclosing means a fluid reservoir subject to control pressure changes forthe actuation of its valve, and a valve chamber; each of said valvechambers having connected thereto and having in communication therewitha loading line; a control valve connected to each of said loading linesand responsive to and actuated by control pressure changes in itsloading line; a release line connected to and between each of saidcontrol valves and one of said fluid reservoirs sothat all of said mainvalves are thereby con nested in series and whereby actuation of a saidcontrol valve will efiect a control pressure change in its release lineand therebyeflect a control pressure change in its connected fluidreservoir to actuate the main valve associated with the reservoir tothereby effect a control pressure change in its valve chamber, connectedloading line, and actuation of the control valve connected to suchloading line, and, thence, a seriatim actuation of all said main valves;and an indexing valve operatively connected in one of said lines,

said indexing valve having indexing means operative by such controlpressure changes in its line,

and valve means responsive to a predetermined number of indexingoperations by said indexing means for closing said one line whereby saidcontrol valves and said main valves are rendered inactive.

7. In a fluid distribution system the combination of a fluid pressuresupply header a plurality of fluid discharge branches leading therefrom,in each of said branches a valve which is held closed by the pressure ofthe fluid in such header acting on a Surface of such valve and whichvalve is opened when such pressure is relieved, pilot mechanism forintermittently relieving said pressure on each of said valves andoperating said valves in sequence, and, operatively connected to one ofsaid valves, an indexing valve actuated by the intermittent fluidpressure chang in said valves and adapted to terminate the operation ofsaid valve and pilot mechanism after a predetermined number of pressurechanges.

8. In a fluid distribution system the combination of a fluid pressuresupply header a plurality of fluid discharge branches leading therefrom,in .each of said branches a valve which is held closed by pressure ofthe fluid in such header acting on terminate the operation of said onevalve.

9. in a fluid distribution system the combination of a fluid pressuresupply header, a plurality of fluid discharge branches leadingtherefrom, in each of said branches, a branch valve which is held closedby the pressure of the fluid in such header acting on a surface thereofand opened when the pressure of such fluid is relieved, a pilot conduitand pilot valve connected between each of said branch valves by whichsaid pilot valves are opened and closed in sequence and the pressure insuch conduit is changed, and, in one of said pilot conduits an indexingvalve having a ratchet member operatively connected to a surfaceyielda'ble to the fluid in such conduit and adapted to close said oneconduit after a predetermined number of operations of said ratchet.

10. In a fluid distribution system the combination of a fluid pressuresupp-1y header, a plurality of fluid discharge branches leadingtherefrom, in each of said branches a branch valve which is held closedby the pressure of the fluid in such head-er acting on a surface of suchvalve and which valve is opened when such pressure is relieved, betweeneach of said valves a pilot conduit and a pilot valve adapted to beopened and closed by fluid pressure changes occurring during the openingand closing of one of such branch valves to which it is connected, and,operatively connected in one of said pilot conduits an indexing valveactuated by fluid pressure changesin said conduit for closing saidconduit after a predetermined number of pressure changes.

E. LAMAR GAINES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

I UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 981,271 Hutchins Jan. 10, 19111,768,305 Bentley June 24, 1930 2,368,832 Hauser Feb. 6, 1945

